As a startup founder, you probably work long hours, constantly juggling tasks, and still feel like you're falling behind. But what if I told you that you could already be working a four-day week or six-hour days if you simply focused on doing the most important tasks first?

The truth is, that most founders avoid the very thing that could push their company forward the fastest. And it’s not because they don’t know what it is—it’s because it often feels uncomfortable or unpleasant. Let’s explore why this happens and how you can shift your approach to unlock more time and focus in your workweek.

The uncomfortable truth about the "most important task"

For instance, in early-stage startups, the most important thing the founder often needs to do is sell. Whether it’s cold outreach, contacting potential partners, or closing deals, this is usually the high-leverage activity that drives growth. But what happens instead?

Founders tend to shy away from it. They’ll check their emails, tweak their pitch decks, and plan for the next event or expo. These tasks feel more comfortable and safe. But are they really moving the needle? More often than not, they’re just distractions.

The reality is that most founders aren’t reaching out to enough people. Say you need to contact 100 potential customers or partners - that sounds daunting, but it’s not impossible. If you sit down on Monday morning and reach out to 100 people via LinkedIn or email, you could be done by the afternoon. The follow-ups could be done by Tuesday. If you’re lucky, you’ve knocked out your most important task for the entire week in just one or two days.

Avoiding discomfort leads to inefficiency

Founders, like most people, tend to avoid discomfort. Cold contacting, selling, or any high-stakes task that may lead to rejection is uncomfortable. So they drift toward tasks that feel productive but are often low in impact.

In my experience, especially while working with over 100 portfolio companies in a pre-seed venture capital fund, I’ve observed this pattern repeatedly. Founders spend hours on things that don’t matter because it’s easier to focus on the "comfortable" tasks. But if they just focused on the one thing that truly matters—swallowing the frog, so to speak - they’d find themselves with a lot more time and a lot more progress.

Focus and prioritization lead to more free time

The key to unlocking a shorter workweek lies in focusing on what truly matters. Instead of spreading your energy across a wide array of small tasks, start your week by tackling the biggest, most impactful action item. Once that’s done, you free up time for other things—or even to take a break.

Imagine if you spent Monday contacting 100 companies, setting up meetings, or initiating sales conversations. By Tuesday, you’d be following up, and the rest of the week could be lighter. You’d already have done the heavy lifting, so the stress of looming tasks would be gone. You could use the extra time for strategy, personal development, or just recharging.

Working less leads to better decisions

When you’re not overwhelmed by endless tasks, you’re in a better mental state to make good decisions. Prioritization isn’t just about doing more in less time, it’s about having the clarity to choose what’s worth doing. If you’re constantly firefighting, it’s easy to get caught in a cycle of reacting instead of strategically acting.

By working smarter, not harder, and focusing on what really matters, you’ll not only free up time but also gain the mental bandwidth to make better choices. That resilience will make it easier to "swallow the frog" and take on uncomfortable but critical tasks.

Stop avoiding the hard stuff

The lesson is simple: if you consistently prioritize the most important, uncomfortable tasks, you’ll find you can get more done in less time. Many founders could already be enjoying a four-day workweek if they approached their workload this way.

It’s not about working less for the sake of it—it’s about working efficiently. Stop avoiding the hard stuff, and you’ll find the freedom to spend your time on what truly matters, both inside and outside your business.

By focusing, prioritizing, and embracing discomfort, you’ll not only grow your company faster but also reclaim your time. And isn't that the goal in the end?